Martin Freeman

Even though he comes from a Roman Catholic family, his parents didn’t ever impose religious practices on him. As a child he suffered from chronic asthma and even underwent a hip surgery for what he describes as a “dodgy leg”.

Freeman has been linked with actress Amanda Abbington since 2000. The couple lived together in Hertfordshire for over a decade. However, his affair with his long-time partner ended in the spring of 2016. He has two children with her. His son, Joe, was born in 2006 followed by a daughter, Grace, in 2008.

Martin John Christopher Freeman was born on 8th September 1971 to Philomena Norris and Geoffrey Freeman at Hamshire, England. He is the youngest of five siblings.

He belongs to a Roman Catholic family of English and Irish ancestry. His family was close-knit until his parents divorced when he was a toddler.

After his parents’ separation, he lived with his father until his father’s death in 1981. His father died of a cardiac arrest and so he moved back in with his mother and step-father, James.

Martin grew up alongside his three older brothers and sister. Most of his family later established a career in the entertainment industry. His brother, Tim Freeman, became a pop-artist, while another brother, Jamie Freeman, is now a musician.

Martin attended Salesian School, Chertsey, and was a member of the British National Squash Squad until he was fourteen years old. He soon took a liking for the entertainment industry like his elder siblings and ended up enrolling in the ‘Central School of Speech and Drama’ when he was fifteen.

He made his first television appearance in the 1997 show ‘The Bill’ as Craig Parnell in the episode ‘Mantrap’. Offers began flooding in for him the same year and he was seen playing guest roles in the TV shows ‘This Life’ and ‘Casualty’.

In 1998, he played Frank in a short film called ‘I Just Want to Kiss You’ and also made another appearance on television in the series ‘Picking up the Pieces’ as Brendan.

After doing a few more short films, he managed to bag a recurring role in the comedy sketch show ‘Bruiser’, wherein he played various characters.

In 2001, he was cast as Jamie in the television film ‘Men Only’ and landed his first prominent role in the British mockumentary sitcom ‘The Office’.

In 2003, he bagged several television roles including the TV films ‘Margery and Gladys’ and ‘Hardwar’. His film career flourished simultaneously and he played a cameo in the movie ‘Shaun of the Dead’ and portrayed the character Arthur Dent in the comic sci-fi ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’.

His career in the film industry saw a leap in 2006. He was signed on for major roles in several hit films including ‘Confetti’, ‘Breaking and Entering’, Justin Theroux’s ‘Dedication’ and the documentary ‘Rembrandt’s J’Accuse’.

Not forgoing his television roots, he starred as Mr. Codlin in the TV film ‘The Old Curiosity Shop’ and played the lead role of Chris Curry in the TV drama ‘Micro Men’ alongside Alexander Armstrong.

The year 2010 happened to be his luckiest year as he signed the role of Dr. John Watson in the televised English crime drama ‘Sherlock’. His performance in this role has by far been his most acclaimed and awarded work till present day.

Freeman was signed on for the lead role in the epic high fantasy adventure film and triology ‘The Hobbit’ in 2012. His stellar performance as Bilbo Baggins in the film was critically applauded worldwide.